DUTCH DEVELOP PLASTIC WHEEL
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by lep van der Meer A fibre-reinforced plastic semi-trailer wheel will be exhibited at the Amsterdam Commercial Vehicle show.
The wheel weighs only 18kg, accepts wide single tyres (385/22.5), and is claimed to be 32kg lighter than its steel equivalent and even to have a 5kg advantage on aluminium rims. Steel inserts are used for strength around the stud holes.
The wheel has been produced by the Dutch engineering company Prins using Twaron synthetic fibre from Akzo Nobel. Prins has been making steel wheels for trailers, caravans and agricultural vehicles for many years and has been developing the composite wheel for 18 months.
Further work is being undertaken to gain TiN approval. The results so far seem encouraging but a number of tests still have to be completed, says the company.
As the plastic wheel acts as an insulator, heat dissipation from the brake drum is a potential problem but the company says the material is "very heat resistant". A test programme is currently running to examine heat dissipation and the company says the increased used of disc brakes and retarders will lead to lower brake temperatures.
Production is expected to begin in the second half of the year with the first wheels will be delivered in early October. The price has yet to be announced.